KUALA LUMPUR: The Israeli national arrested by police who was found with six pistols and 200 rounds of ammunition at a hotel on Jalan Ampang on Wednesday (March 27), has been identified as Shalom Avitan.
He was reported to have come to Malaysia to kill the leader of a rival criminal group.
According to The Times Of Israel, based on Hebrew news reports, the suspect is believed to be associated with the criminal group known as the Musli Brothers.
Additionally, according to Israeli news portal Mako, Avitan is believed to be on a mission to kill Eran Haya, the head of the rival criminal group.
"Both syndicates have been involved in violent disputes for months. According to Channel 12, Avitan's house, in the upscale neighbourhood of Bavli, Tel Aviv, has been targeted by several hand grenades thrown by Haya's associates.
"The incident was reported in mid-March, believed to be before Haya allegedly entered Malaysia," it said.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed that police arrested an Israeli man along with six pistols and 200 rounds of ammunition at a hotel on Jalan Ampang, here, last Wednesday.
The 36-year-old man was found to have entered the country through Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on March 12 using a French passport.
The six firearms found in the suspect's hotel room are Glock 19 Marine, Glock 17 Gen 4, Smith and Wesson, Sig Sauer, and Stoeger, along with 200 rounds of ammunition placed in his bag.
Razarudin was reported saying that based on interrogations, the suspect claimed he came to this country to kill a fellow citizen allegedly related to a family issue, but the police do not believe his claim.
However, the police are still conducting investigations and it is possible that the suspect had other agendas for coming to this country.
Following that, the police were reported to have also arrested three Malaysian citizens, including a married couple suspected of supplying firearms to the Israeli man.
The couple, aged 42 and 40, were arrested by a team of officers and members of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID), at a Ramadan bazaar in Kuala Selangor yesterday.
Razarudin was also reported to have said that police have tightened up security, especially for the Prime Minister and the King, following the arrest, as the conflict between Palestine and Israel is ongoing.
Malaysia is a staunch supporter of Palestine and openly criticises Israel's actions in the Gaza conflict.
According to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), Malaysia, which does not have any diplomatic relations with Israel, hosts about 600 Palestinian refugees.
In 2018, a Palestinian scientist was shot dead in the capital by two unidentified men, with Hamas claiming it was carried out by Mossad Israeli intelligence. - NST
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